Vancouver Canucks forward Zack Kassian is off to a rough start this season. After serving a suspension for a high-sticking incident in the preseason, he has just two goals in nine games this year including one on Monday night against the Washington Capitals.

“Zack Kassian? Good at times. Crappy at times. But he’s coming. He’s coming. He still has to work on his consistency, having the puck, protecting the puck. So he wasn’t too bad,” Tortorella said.

There’s no real beating around the bush on that one.

Kassian has been playing an average of over 12 minutes per game this season so that means he’s got to make the most of his opportunities when he’s out there. Turning the puck over won’t help him endear himself to his new coach, but more goals and hits would do the trick.

His favorite player growing up was Todd Bertuzzi and it took him almost 7 years before he figured it out and became a dominant power forward. From early 2002-late 2003 he was arguably the most dominant player in the NHL along with Jarome Iginla.

Kassian needs more time to develop and learn how to use his size at the NHL level. You don’t want to give up on a guy who has those kinds of physical tools.